> The areas that are more pleasant might be hard to replicate in a small space. You can't create a forest microclimate in a 1/4 acre yard

Yes you can! https://youtu.be/ng-VskDFPpM

It takes some work upfront to convert a lawn to a miniforest but it can be done.

Just imagine how wonderful suburbia could be if this was the norm and not the exception.

Edit: here's that same yard in early spring, where the fact that it's a normal suburban yard is more visible: https://youtu.be/CdthuPbn2uo . It's incredible how lush it is in the summer, you'd think it was miles away from civilization.